By Edmund J. Rogers 
Alastair Cook made 161 test appearances for England before retiring from international cricket in 2018; the 38-year-old is England’s leading test scorer with 12,472 points; Cook made his last appearance for Essex, the county where he spent his entire professional career, in September
Former England captain Alastair Cook has announced his retirement from professional cricket.
Cook, 38, made the last of his 161 test appearances in 2018 but continued to represent the county he has spent his entire career at, Essex, until the final match of his 2023 campaign at the end of September.
The left-handed opener’s 12,472 tests are the most of any English batsman, putting him fifth on the all-time list. His 33 test centuries are also the most by an English player.
“It’s not easy to say goodbye,” Cook said. “For more than two decades, cricket has been much more than my job.
“It’s the right time for this part of my life to end. I have always given absolutely everything I had to be the best player possible, but now I want to leave space for the new generation to take over.”
Cook, who was knighted for services to cricket in 2019, captained the Ashes-winning teams in 2013 and 2015 and was part of two other England winning teams in cricket’s greatest rivalry.
He holds the record for the most consecutive tests for one team, having represented England in 159 consecutive matches.
Cook also captained the England one-day international team, making 92 appearances in the 50-over format between 2006 and 2014. He has also played for England in four T20s.
Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive, said: “Sir Alastair Cook was a titan of the game whose legacy will be embodied not only by the many records he achieved, but also by the leadership and grace he always showed during a long and distinguished career.
“He is a role model in every sense of the word and it has been an enduring privilege to witness his extraordinary talent and determination for England and Essex. His sincere love for the game has always shone through and I wish him all the best for the future.”
Cook made his first-class debut for Essex in 2003, eventually played for 20 seasons and finished his first-class career with 26,643 runs at an average of 46.41.
Cook was Essex’s top scorer when they won the second of two county championship titles in 2019.
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Essex, the county I joined when I was 12,” he added. “I would like to warmly thank everyone at Chelmsford for everything they have given me. All the fans, members and staff members have always been very supportive, patient and generous.
“When I finished my international career, I had no idea that I would still have an extra five years playing for Essex. I can’t express in words how much fun we had during this time. For that, I would like to thank head coach Anthony McGrath, Ryan ten Doeschate and Tom Westley, my two captains during this period, and all the players. I’ll be sure to put my pads on and face the new ball, but I’ll miss being in the Eagles locker room.